The Audacity of Optimism

I’m joining a gym this week. I know it’s not original, but after six years of being overworked and burnt out, I started my full-time job and found myself with more free time than I had in the past. Initially, I filled this time with rest and relaxation, but I soon realized that there’s only so much someone can take. It is amazing how enticing a TV show or book can be when the alternative is homework. I started getting outside and exercising, like going on bike rides and taking walks, which were great in the summer and fall. However, the winter brought additional challenges to keeping up the habit. It’s easy to make excuses like it’s raining, too cold, or too windy. Suddenly the habit I had developed to do something enjoyable and good for me in turned into a once or twice a week occurrence. Therefore, something needed to change, and that was to start working out inside during the winter. Unfortunately, the gyms are packed around the new year as people attempt to fulfill their New Year’s resolution. I have never been able to keep a New Year’s resolution alive throughout the entire year and therefore look upon those who try with a sense of audacity at their optimism.

The start of a new year often brings with it a renewed sense of hope and optimism, and this is particularly true when it comes to people’s fitness journeys. Many individuals make New Year’s resolutions to improve their physical health, and this heightened motivation is reflected in the surge of gym memberships and personal training sessions that occur in the first weeks of January. But why is it that so many people feel more optimistic about their fitness goals at the start of the new year?

One possible explanation is the “fresh start effect.” According to a study published in the Journal of Consumer Research, people tend to view temporal landmarks, such as the beginning of a new year, as “mental accounting” moments, where they perceive a clear separation from the past and an opportunity to start anew. This psychological phenomenon can make people more likely to take action towards achieving their goals, such as starting a new exercise regimen or signing up for a gym membership.

Additionally, social norms may also play a role in the increased optimism around fitness goals at the start of the year. A study in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity found that the majority of people reported that the social pressure to make health-related resolutions and the perception that it is a “popular time” to do so, were key drivers to make new year resolutions.

Research published in the Journal of Social Psychology and Personality Science states, that people also tend to think more positively and to have more confidence in their ability to achieve their goals at the start of a new year. This is in part due to a phenomenon known as “temporal distance,” where people tend to perceive goals that are in the distant future as being more attainable than those that are imminent.

While the motivation and optimism that come with the start of a new year can be helpful in kickstarting a fitness journey, it’s important to remember that sustainable change takes time and effort. According to a study published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, the most effective way to achieve long-term change is through small, consistent steps rather than attempting to make drastic changes all at once. Setting realistic goals and building habits over time, rather than relying on a one-time burst of motivation, are key to successfully achieving and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

While there is no scientific evidence that people are more likely to feel optimistic about their fitness journey specifically during the new year. However, the fresh start effect, social norms, and temporal distance all play a role in people’s increased motivation to set and pursue fitness goals during this time. By setting realistic goals and building habits over time, individuals can turn their New Year’s resolutions into lasting, positive changes. So to everyone who is starting their fitness journey this year, good luck.